JP2016134561A - Cooling device, laser light radiation device, and image processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cooling device which controls cooling operation according to the operation state (a process mode) of a laser light source mounted thereon, saves energy used for cooling, and controls a laser light source temperature to a proper temperature.SOLUTION: A cooling device 20 cools a laser light source 11 of an image processing system 1 which emits laser light 10 towards a heat reversible recording medium 15. The cooling device 20 has a controller 23 which controls cooling operation on the basis of information (a process mode of the image processing system 1) related to a heating state of the laser light source 11 of the image processing system 1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a cooling device, a laser beam irradiation device, and an image processing device.

  Image recording and image erasure on the thermoreversible recording medium are performed by a contact-type recording method in which a heat source is brought into contact with the thermoreversible recording medium to heat the thermoreversible recording medium.

  As a heat source at this time, a thermal head or the like is usually used for image recording, and a heat roller, a ceramic heater or the like is used for image erasing. In the case of such a contact type recording method, when the thermoreversible recording medium is a flexible material such as a film or paper, the thermoreversible recording medium is uniformly pressed against a heating source by a platen or the like. Image recording and erasing can be performed, and the image recording apparatus and the image erasing apparatus can be manufactured at low cost by diverting the components of a conventional thermal paper printer.

  On the other hand, there is a desire to rewrite an image from a remote location. For example, a method using a laser has been proposed as a method for recording and erasing an image uniformly when irregularities occur on the surface of the thermoreversible recording medium or from a remote location.

  For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a method for performing non-contact recording using a thermoreversible recording medium in a transport container used in a physical distribution line. It has been proposed that writing is performed with a laser and erasing is performed with hot air, hot water, or an infrared heater.

  As a recording method using a laser, a laser recording apparatus (laser marker) capable of irradiating a thermoreversible recording medium with a high-power laser beam and controlling its position has been proposed. A laser marker is used to irradiate a thermoreversible recording medium with a laser beam, and a photothermal conversion material in the thermoreversible recording medium absorbs light and converts it into heat, and recording and erasing are performed with the heat.

  For example, Patent Document 2 proposes a method of recording with a near-infrared laser beam by combining a leuco dye, a reversible developer, and various photothermal conversion materials.

  In such a laser beam irradiation apparatus that irradiates laser light, it is known to provide a cooling device for cooling the laser light source in order to stabilize the output and wavelength of the laser light source and to extend the life of the laser light source. . The cooling device cools the laser light source by air cooling using a fan, liquid cooling using a cooling liquid, a Peltier unit, or the like.

  In recent years, an image processing apparatus that records and erases an image on a thermoreversible recording medium by irradiating a laser beam is also required to reduce cost and space. On the other hand, for example, Patent Documents 3 and 4 propose an image processing method for performing both image erasing and image recording with a single image processing apparatus (one laser light irradiation apparatus).

  In such an image processing apparatus, there are processing modes such as an image recording mode in which only image recording is repeated, an image erasing mode in which only image erasing is repeated, and a rewriting mode in which both image erasing and image recording are repeated, which can be switched as necessary. It has become.

  The thermoreversible recording medium is different in temperature and cooling state for color development and decoloration, and is necessary for erasing the heat energy necessary for recording an image on the thermoreversible recording medium and the image. Thermal energy is different.

  Further, since the durability of the thermoreversible recording medium is lowered when excessive heat is applied, it is desirable to apply thermal energy suitable for each processing. Also, from the viewpoint of energy saving, it is desirable to add heat energy suitable for each treatment.

  For this reason, the laser light source that irradiates and heats the thermoreversible recording medium is controlled so as to apply appropriate thermal energy in each processing mode by changing the output of the laser light. As a result, the heat generation state of the laser light source varies depending on the processing mode.

  However, in a conventional laser light source cooling device mounted on a laser beam irradiation device or an image processing device, the cooling operation of the cooling device is not controlled according to the operating state (processing mode) of the mounted device, and cooling is performed. Problems remain in energy saving and optimization of laser light source temperature.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a cooling device capable of controlling the cooling operation in accordance with the operating state of the mounted device.

  In order to achieve such an object, a cooling device according to the present invention is a cooling device that cools a laser light source of a laser light irradiation device that irradiates a medium with laser light, and a heat generation state of the laser light source of the laser light irradiation device It has a cooling control means for controlling the cooling operation based on the information related to.

  According to the present invention, by controlling the cooling operation according to the operating state of the mounted apparatus, it is possible to save energy for cooling and to control the laser light source temperature to an appropriate temperature.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the layer structure of a thermoreversible recording medium. It is an example of a temperature-color density change curve of a thermoreversible recording medium. It is the schematic which shows the basic composition of an image processing apparatus. It is the schematic which shows an example of the image processing apparatus provided with the cooling device. It is the schematic which shows the other example of the image processing apparatus provided with the cooling device. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the cooling control by a cooling device. It is a flowchart which shows the other example of the cooling control by a cooling device. It is a flowchart which shows the other example of the cooling control by a cooling device. It is a flowchart which shows the other example of the cooling control by a cooling device. It is a flowchart which shows the other example of the cooling control by the control apparatus of a cooling device.

  Hereinafter, a configuration according to the present invention will be described in detail based on the embodiment shown in FIGS.

<First Embodiment>
The cooling device according to the present embodiment cools the laser light source (laser light source 11) of the laser light irradiation device (image processing device 1) that irradiates the medium (thermo-reversible recording medium 15) with laser light (laser light 10). Cooling control means (control device 23) that controls the cooling operation based on information (processing mode of the image processing device 1) related to the heat generation state of the laser light source of the laser light irradiation device. , 36) (FIGS. 4 and 5). In addition, the code | symbol in embodiment and the example of application are shown in a parenthesis.

(Thermal reversible recording medium)
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a layer structure of a thermoreversible recording medium (reversible thermal recording medium). The layer structure of the thermoreversible recording medium 15 includes at least a support 101 and a thermoreversible recording layer 102 as shown in FIG. Moreover, it has other layers, such as the intermediate | middle layer 103, the oxygen barrier layer 104, and the ultraviolet absorption layer 105, as needed. In addition, the structure of other layers, such as the intermediate | middle layer 103, the oxygen barrier layer 104, and the ultraviolet absorption layer 105, should just be a well-known thing, and can be suitably selected according to the objective etc.

[Support]
There is no restriction | limiting in particular about the shape, a structure, a magnitude | size, etc. as the support body 101, According to the objective, it can select suitably. Examples of the shape of the support 101 include a flat plate shape, and the structure may be a single layer structure or a laminated structure. Further, the size can be appropriately selected according to the size of the thermoreversible recording medium 15 and the like.

[Thermal reversible recording layer]
The thermoreversible recording layer 102 includes a leuco dye which is an electron donating color developing compound whose color tone is reversibly changed by heat, and a reversible developer which is an electron accepting compound, and the color tone is reversibly changed by heat. A thermoreversible recording layer. The thermoreversible recording layer 102 includes a binder resin and, if necessary, other components.

  A leuco dye and a reversible developer are materials that can develop a phenomenon that causes a visible change reversibly due to a temperature change, and a relatively colored state due to a difference in heating temperature and cooling rate after heating. And can be changed to a decolored state.

[Leuco dye]
A leuco dye is itself a colorless or light dye precursor. The leuco dye is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected from known ones. For example, triphenylmethanephthalide, triallylmethane, fluoran, phenothiazine, thioferolane, xanthene And leuco compounds such as indophthalyl, spiropyran, azaphthalide, chromenopyrazole, methine, rhodamine anilinolactam, rhodamine lactam, quinazoline, diazaxanthene and bislactone. Among these, a fluoran-based or phthalide-based leuco dye is particularly preferable in terms of excellent color development / decoloring properties, color, storage stability, and the like.

[Reversible developer]
The reversible developer (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “developer”) is not particularly limited as long as it can reversibly develop and decolorize by using heat as a factor. Although it can select suitably, for example, (1) Structure (for example, phenolic hydroxyl group, carboxylic acid group, phosphoric acid group, etc.) which has the ability to develop color which develops leuco dye, and (2) Aggregation between molecules Preferred examples include compounds having one or more structures in the molecule selected from structures that control force (for example, structures in which long-chain hydrocarbon groups are linked). The linking moiety may be connected to a divalent or higher valent linking group containing a heteroatom, and the long-chain hydrocarbon group also contains at least one of the same linking group and aromatic group. May be.

(Image recording and image erasing mechanism)
Next, an image recording and image erasing mechanism will be described. The image recording and image erasing mechanism is an aspect in which the color tone is reversibly changed by heat. This embodiment is composed of a leuco dye and a reversible developer, and the color tone reversibly changes between heat and color by a heat.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of a temperature-color density change curve of a thermoreversible recording medium having a thermoreversible recording layer containing a leuco dye and a developer in a resin.

  First, when the temperature of the thermoreversible recording layer initially in the decolored state (A) is raised, the leuco dye and the developer are melted and mixed at the melting temperature T1, and color development occurs, resulting in a molten color developing state (B). It becomes. When rapidly cooled from the melt color state (B), the color state can be lowered to room temperature, and the color state is stabilized and becomes a fixed color state (C).

  Whether or not this color development state has been obtained depends on the rate of temperature decrease from the melted state. In slow cooling, the color disappears in the process of temperature decrease, and the same color disappearance state (A) as the initial state or the color development state by rapid cooling ( The density is relatively lower than in C). On the other hand, when the temperature is raised again from the color development state (C), the color disappears at a temperature T2 lower than the color development temperature (D to E). Return to.

  The colored state (C) obtained by quenching from the molten state is a state in which the leuco dye and the developer are mixed in a state in which molecules can contact each other, and this forms a solid state. Many. In this state, the molten mixture (color mixture) of the leuco dye and the developer is crystallized to maintain the color development, and it is considered that the color development is stabilized by the formation of this structure.

  On the other hand, the decolored state is a state in which both phases are separated. This state is a state in which molecules of at least one compound aggregate to form a domain or crystallize, and the leuco dye and the developer are separated and stabilized by aggregation or crystallization. It is believed that there is. In many cases, the color developer is crystallized as a result of phase separation between the two, thereby causing more complete color erasure.

(Image processing device configuration)
Next, the configuration of the image processing apparatus will be described.

  The image processing apparatus includes: a laser beam emitting unit that emits a laser beam; a laser beam scanning unit that scans the laser beam on a laser beam irradiation surface on a thermoreversible recording medium; and a portion between the laser beam emitting unit and the laser beam scanning unit. A focal length control means for controlling the focal length of the laser beam by adjusting the position of the lens system, image erasure information, image recording information, and a thermoreversible recording medium. Information setting means for inputting and setting distance information with respect to the laser light emitting surface of the laser light emitting means.

  Then, when erasing the image, the focal length control means controls the defocusing at the position of the thermoreversible recording medium, and when recording the image, the focal length control means controls the focal length at the position of the thermoreversible recording medium. Immediately after the completion of image erasure based on the image erasure information set by the setting means, image recording is performed based on the image recording information.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an image processing apparatus. An image processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 3 shows a configuration that is a premise of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

  In the image processing apparatus 1, a laser beam 10 emitted from a laser light source 11 as a laser beam emitting unit is converted into parallel light by a collimator lens 12, enters a diffusion lens 16, and is collected by a condenser lens 18. Further, the optical system has a focal position that changes depending on the position of the diffusing lens 16 in the laser light irradiation direction.

  The diffusion lens 16 is attached to the lens position control mechanism 17 and can be moved in the laser light irradiation direction. The diffusing lens 16 and the lens position control mechanism 17 constitute a focal length control means. The lens position control mechanism 17 is a mechanism that can move at high speed by control by a pulse motor, and can control focal length at high speed. Then, the laser beam 10 is scanned on the thermoreversible recording medium 15 by a galvanometer mirror 13 as laser beam scanning means.

[Laser light emitting means]
The laser light emitting means is means for emitting laser light, and examples thereof include a YAG laser, a fiber laser, a semiconductor laser (LD), and a fiber coupled laser. Among these, a fiber-coupled laser is particularly preferable from the viewpoint that it is easy to obtain a top hat-shaped light distribution and image recording with high visibility is possible.

[Laser beam scanning means]
The laser beam scanning unit is a unit that scans the laser beam emitted from the laser beam emitting unit on the laser beam irradiation surface of the thermoreversible recording medium. The laser beam scanning means is not particularly limited as long as the laser beam can be scanned on the laser beam emission surface, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, a galvanometer and a mirror attached to the galvanometer, etc. Can be mentioned.

[Focal distance control means]
The focal length control means has a lens system whose position can be moved between the laser light emitting means and the laser light scanning means, and controls the focal length of the laser light by adjusting the position of the lens system. is there.

  At the time of erasing the image, control is performed by defocusing at the position of the thermoreversible recording medium by the focal length control means. At the time of image recording, the focal length control means controls the focal length at the position of the thermoreversible recording medium.

[Information setting means]
The information setting means is means for inputting and setting image erasure information, image recording information, and distance information between the thermoreversible recording medium and the laser light emitting surface of the laser light emitting means.

  In the image recording step and the image erasing step, the focal length is controlled by the focal length control unit based on the set value of the distance information between the thermoreversible recording medium and the emission surface of the laser beam emitting unit.

  A control file including image erasure information, image recording information, and distance information is formed by the information setting means, and information is transferred from the information setting means to the control means (laser irradiation control means) for controlling the galvanometer, laser irradiation means, etc. It is operating.

(Processing mode of image processing device)
The information setting means can select from three processing modes, ie, “image recording mode”, “image erasing mode”, and “image erasing + image recording (rewriting mode)”. Hereinafter, three processing modes will be described.

[Image recording mode]
Control is performed by the focal length control means so that the laser light emitted from the laser light emitting means is focused at the position of the thermoreversible recording medium. By scanning the condensed laser beam, the leuco dye and the developer are heated to the melting temperature (T1) and rapidly cooled, thereby forming a colored state (solid) and recording an image.

[Erase mode]
The laser light emitted from the laser light emitting means is defocused by the focal length control means. By scanning while making the spot diameter larger and overlapping, the leuco dye and the developer are heated to a temperature (T2) lower than the melting temperature and gradually cooled, so that the image is erased and the image is erased.

[Rewrite mode]
By performing image recording on the thermoreversible recording medium on which the image is recorded, the image recorded on the thermoreversible recording medium is erased and a new image is recorded.

(Cooling device configuration)
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an image processing apparatus including a cooling device.

  The configuration of the image processing apparatus 1 is the same as that shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is an example of the cooling device 20 by air cooling. The cooling device 20 includes a heat sink 21 that is in close contact with the laser light source 11, a fan 22 that causes airflow to act on the heat sink 21, and a control device 23 for the fan 22 that is a cooling control unit. The control device 23 controls the cooling operation by changing the flow rate of the airflow acting on the heat sink 21 by controlling the rotational speed of the fan 22 based on information from the control device 24 provided in the image recording apparatus.

  Thereby, the cooling performance of the cooling device 20 can be changed according to the operating state of the image processing apparatus 1. Therefore, energy saving for cooling and energy optimization of the laser light source can be achieved.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example of an image processing apparatus including a cooling device.

  The configuration of the image processing apparatus 1 is the same as that shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is an example of the cooling device 30 by liquid cooling. The cooling device 30 includes a heat receiving part 31 in which a coolant channel is formed in close contact with the laser light source 11, a pump 33 that sends the coolant, a heat radiating part 34 that exchanges heat between the coolant and air, It comprises a tube 32 that connects the heat receiving unit 31, the pump 33, and the heat radiating unit 34, a fan 35 that causes an air flow to act on the heat radiating unit 34, and a control device 36 for the fan 35 that is cooling control means.

  In the heat receiving part 31, the cooling liquid heated by receiving heat from the laser light source 11 is cooled by the air flow generated by the fan 35 in the heat radiating part 34. Cooling can be performed by circulating a predetermined amount of coolant through the pump 33 and the tube 32.

  The control device 36 of the fan 35 controls the number of rotations of the fan 35 based on information from the control device 37 provided in the image recording apparatus, thereby changing the flow rate of the airflow acting on the heat radiating unit 34 to perform the cooling operation. To control.

  Thereby, the cooling performance of the cooling device 30 can be changed according to the operating state of the image processing apparatus 1. Therefore, energy saving for cooling and energy optimization of the laser light source can be achieved.

  In addition, the cooling performance of the cooling device 30 by liquid cooling can be performed not only by controlling the rotation speed of the fan 35 but also by changing the amount of the cooling liquid by controlling the pump 33.

(Cooling device control)
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of cooling control by the control device of the cooling device. In the present embodiment, the cooling device is controlled based on the processing mode. In the following description, the cooling device 30 (FIG. 5) will be described as an example. In the case of the cooling device 20 (FIG. 4), since it does not have a pump, it is the same as the control described below except for the control of the pump.

  When the image processing apparatus starts processing, the cooling device also starts operation. First, the cooling device detects a processing mode performed by the image processing device in a processing mode detection step (S101).

  Next, in the fan rotation speed determination step (S102), the fan rotation speed is determined based on the result of the processing mode detection step (S101).

  Next, in the fan / pump operation step (S103), the operation of the fan and the pump is started. At this time, the fan rotation speed is the fan rotation speed determined in the fan rotation speed determination step (S102).

  Next, in the processing continuation determining step (S104), it is determined whether or not the processing of the image processing apparatus is continued. If the processing is continued (S104: Y), the processing is not continued to the fan / pump operation step (S103) ( S104: N) proceeds to stop and stops the fan and the pump.

  Table 1 is a correspondence table between processing modes and fan rotation speeds in the fan rotation speed determination step (S102).

  In the present embodiment, the amount of heat generated by the laser light source increases in the order of the image recording mode, the rewriting mode, and the image erasing mode. That is, when the heat generation amounts of the laser light sources in the image recording mode, the rewrite mode, and the image erasing mode are E1, E2, and E3, respectively, E3> E2> E1.

  Therefore, as shown in Table 1, the fan speed is 100% of the rated speed in the image erasing mode, the fan speed is 80% of the rated speed in the rewrite mode, and the fan speed is 60% of the rated speed in the image recording mode. %.

  Note that the above fan rotation speed may be determined by obtaining the fan rotation speed so that the laser light source falls below the allowable upper limit temperature in advance through experiments and simulations, and setting the value.

  According to the cooling device according to the present embodiment described above, in the laser light source cooling device mounted on the laser light irradiation device (for example, the image processing device), depending on the operating state (processing mode) of the mounted device. By controlling the cooling operation and changing the cooling performance according to the heat generation state of the laser light source, the laser light source can be maintained at an allowable temperature without consuming excessive cooling energy. Therefore, energy saving for cooling and energy optimization of the laser light source can be achieved.

  Further, by changing the cooling performance of the cooling device according to the processing mode, the cooling performance of the cooling device can be determined according to the processing mode without using a sensor or the like, and the device configuration can be simplified.

<Second Embodiment>
Hereinafter, other embodiments of the cooling device according to the present invention will be described. In addition, the description about the same point as the said embodiment is abbreviate | omitted suitably.

  In the second embodiment, cooling control is performed based on productivity in addition to the processing mode.

(productivity)
Productivity is defined as the number of thermoreversible recording media processed by the image processing apparatus per fixed time. The image processing apparatus can change the productivity by changing the time interval of laser light irradiation. That is, if the time interval for irradiating the laser light is set short, the productivity increases, and if the time interval for irradiating the laser light is set short, the productivity decreases.

  In addition, when the productivity is increased, the time ratio of laser light irradiation increases, so the amount of heat generated by the laser light source increases. When the productivity decreases, the time ratio of laser light irradiation decreases, so the laser light source The calorific value is reduced.

(Cooling device control)
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing another example of the cooling control by the control device of the cooling device. In the present embodiment, the cooling device is controlled based on the processing mode and productivity.

  When the image processing apparatus starts processing, the cooling device also starts operation. First, the cooling device detects a processing mode performed by the image processing device in a processing mode detection step (S201).

  Next, in the productivity detection step (S202), the productivity of processing performed by the image processing apparatus is detected.

  Next, in the fan rotation speed determination step (S203), the fan rotation speed is determined based on the results of the processing mode detection step (S201) and the productivity detection step (S202).

  Next, in the fan / pump operation step (S204), the operation of the fan and the pump is started. At this time, the fan rotation speed is the fan rotation speed determined in the fan rotation speed determination step (S203).

  Next, in the processing continuation determination step (S205), it is determined whether or not the processing of the image processing apparatus is continued. If the processing is continued (S205: Y), the fan / pump operation step (S204) is not continued ( S205: N) proceeds to stop and stops the fan and the pump.

  Table 2 is a correspondence table between the processing mode, productivity, and fan rotation speed in the fan rotation speed determination step (S203).

  In the present embodiment, the amount of heat generated by the laser light source increases in the order of the image recording mode, the rewriting mode, and the image erasing mode. That is, when the heat generation amounts of the laser light sources in the image recording mode, the rewrite mode, and the image erasing mode are E1, E2, and E3, respectively, E3> E2> E1. In each mode, the higher the productivity, the greater the amount of heat generated by the laser light source.

  Therefore, as shown in Table 2, in the image erasing mode, when the productivity is greater than 0% (non-production state) and less than 30%, the fan speed is 60% of the rated speed and the productivity is greater than 30%. When it is 70% or less, the fan speed is 80% of the rated speed, and when the productivity is greater than 70% and 100% or less, the fan speed is 100%.

  In rewrite mode, when the productivity is greater than 0% and less than 30%, the fan speed is 50% of the rated speed, and when the productivity is greater than 30% and less than 70%, the fan speed is rated. When the rotation speed is 70% and the productivity is greater than 70% and less than 100%, the fan rotation speed is set to 90% of the rated rotation speed.

  In the image recording mode, when the productivity is greater than 0% and less than 30%, the fan speed is 40% of the rated speed, and when the productivity is greater than 30% and less than 70%, the fan speed is When the rated speed is 60% and the productivity is greater than 70% and less than 100%, the fan speed is set to 80%.

  According to the cooling apparatus according to the second embodiment, the cooling performance of the cooling apparatus can be changed according to the processing mode and productivity of the image processing apparatus, and the laser light source is allowed to operate at an allowable temperature without consuming excessive cooling energy. Can be kept in.

<Third Embodiment>
In the third embodiment, cooling control is performed based on the ambient temperature in addition to the processing mode and productivity.

(Ambient temperature)
The thermoreversible recording medium needs to be heated to a predetermined temperature for both coloring (image recording) and decoloring (image erasing). Therefore, the thermal energy required for color development (image recording) and color erasing (image erasure) varies depending on the temperature of the thermoreversible recording medium. In this embodiment, when the temperature of the thermoreversible recording medium is high, color development (image recording) and thermal energy required for decoloring (image erasing) are reduced, and when the temperature of the thermoreversible recording medium is low, color development (image recording) Thermal energy required for erasing (image erasing) increases.

  Since the output necessary for the laser light source is the same, when the temperature of the thermoreversible recording medium is high, the amount of heat generated by the laser light source decreases. When the temperature of the thermoreversible recording medium is low, the amount of heat generated by the laser light source increases. In addition, since thermoreversible recording media do not generate heat, they are often equal to the ambient temperature. For this reason, if the ambient temperature is high, the amount of heat generated by the laser light source is small, and if the ambient temperature is low, it can be predicted that the amount of heat generated by the laser light source is large.

(Cooling device control)
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing another example of the cooling control by the control device of the cooling device. In the present embodiment, the cooling device is controlled based on the processing mode, productivity, and ambient temperature.

  For example, in the cooling device 30 shown in FIG. 5, the ambient temperature is measured by providing an ambient temperature sensor outside the image processing apparatus and the control device 36 taking in the detection value of the ambient temperature sensor. Further, the ambient temperature sensor may be provided in the image processing apparatus 1, and the control device 36 may capture the value of the ambient temperature from the image processing apparatus 1.

  When the image processing apparatus starts processing, the cooling device also starts operation. First, the cooling device detects a processing mode performed by the image processing device in a processing mode detection step (S301).

  Next, in the productivity detection step (S302), the productivity of processing performed by the image processing apparatus is detected.

  Next, in the ambient temperature detection step (S303), the ambient temperature of the image processing apparatus is detected.

  Next, in the fan rotation speed determination step (S304), the fan rotation speed is determined based on the results of the processing mode detection step (S301), the productivity detection step (S302), and the ambient temperature detection step (S303).

  Next, in the fan / pump operation step (S305), the operation of the fan and the pump is started. At this time, the fan rotation speed is the fan rotation speed determined in the fan rotation speed determination step (S304).

  Next, in the processing continuation determination step (S306), it is determined whether or not the processing of the image processing apparatus is continued. If the processing is continued (S306: Y), the processing is not continued to the fan / pump operation step (S305) ( S306: N) proceeds to stop, and the fan and pump are stopped.

  Table 3 is a correspondence table between the processing mode, productivity, and fan rotation speed in the fan rotation speed determination step (S304).

  In the present embodiment, the amount of heat generated by the laser light source increases in the order of the image recording mode, the rewriting mode, and the image erasing mode. That is, when the heat generation amounts of the laser light sources in the image recording mode, the rewrite mode, and the image erasing mode are E1, E2, and E3, respectively, E3> E2> E1. In each mode, the higher the productivity, the greater the amount of heat generated by the laser light source. Also, the lower the ambient temperature, the greater the amount of heat generated by the laser light source. Hereinafter, control examples in each processing mode will be described.

[Erase mode]
When the productivity is greater than 0% and 30% or less, when the ambient temperature is lower than the lower limit and {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3}, the fan speed is 60% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit When + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3} and {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) x 2/3} or less, the fan speed is 50% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) ) × 2/3} and below the upper limit, the fan speed is 40% of the rated speed.

  When the productivity is greater than 30% and less than 70%, when the ambient temperature is above the lower limit and below {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3}, the fan speed is 80% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit When + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3} is larger than {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) × 2/3}, the fan speed is 70% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) ) × 2/3} and below the upper limit, the fan speed is 60% of the rated speed.

  When the productivity is greater than 70% and less than 100%, when the ambient temperature is above the lower limit and below {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3}, the fan speed is 100% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit When + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3} is larger than {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) x 2/3}, the fan speed is 90% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) ) × 2/3} and below the upper limit, the fan speed is 80% of the rated speed.

[Rewrite mode]
When the productivity is greater than 0% and 30% or less, when the ambient temperature is higher than the lower limit and lower than {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3}, the fan speed is 50% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit When + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3} is larger than {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) x 2/3}, the fan speed is 40% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) ) × 2/3} and below the upper limit, the fan speed is set to 30% of the rated speed.

  When the productivity is greater than 30% and less than 70%, when the ambient temperature is above the lower limit and below {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3}, the fan speed is 70% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit When + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3} is larger than {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) × 2/3}, the fan speed is 60% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) ) × 2/3} and below the upper limit, the fan speed is 50% of the rated speed.

  When productivity is greater than 70% and less than 100%, when the ambient temperature is above the lower limit and below {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3}, the fan speed is 90% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit When + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3} is greater than {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) x 2/3}, the fan speed is 80% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) ) × 2/3} and below the upper limit, the fan speed is set to 70% of the rated speed.

[Image recording mode]
When the productivity is greater than 0% and 30% or less, when the ambient temperature is higher than the lower limit and lower than {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3}, the fan speed is 40% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit When + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3} is greater than {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) x 2/3}, the fan speed is 30% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) ) × 2/3} and below the upper limit, the fan speed is 20% of the rated speed.

  When productivity is greater than 30% and less than 70%, when the ambient temperature is above the lower limit and below {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3}, the fan speed is 60% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit When + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3} and {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) x 2/3} or less, the fan speed is 50% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) ) × 2/3} and below the upper limit, the fan speed is 40% of the rated speed.

  When the productivity is greater than 70% and less than 100%, when the ambient temperature is above the lower limit and below {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3}, the fan speed is 80% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit When + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3} is larger than {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) × 2/3}, the fan speed is 70% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) ) × 2/3} and below the upper limit, the fan speed is 60% of the rated speed.

  According to the cooling device according to the third embodiment, the cooling performance of the cooling device can be changed according to the processing mode, productivity, and ambient temperature (temperature of the thermoreversible recording medium) of the image processing device. The laser light source can be kept at an allowable temperature without consuming energy.

  In the third embodiment, the example in which the cooling performance of the cooling device is changed according to the processing mode, productivity, and ambient temperature of the image processing device has been described. However, the cooling is performed according to the processing mode of the image processing device and the ambient temperature. The cooling performance of the apparatus may be changed.

<Fourth Embodiment>
In the fourth embodiment, cooling control is performed based on the laser light source temperature in addition to the processing mode, productivity, and ambient temperature.

(Laser light source temperature)
The light emission efficiency of the laser light source varies depending on the laser light source temperature. Generally, when the laser light source temperature is high, the light emission efficiency decreases, and when the laser light source temperature is low, the light emission efficiency increases. For this reason, in order to obtain a desired output, the laser light source may correct the input power in accordance with the temperature of the laser light source. When the laser light source temperature is high, the light emission efficiency decreases, so the input power is increased. When the laser light source temperature is low, the light emission efficiency increases, so the input power is reduced. As a result, when the laser light source temperature is high, the heat generation amount of the laser light source is large, and when the laser light source temperature is low, the heat generation amount of the laser light source is small.

(Cooling device control)
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing another example of the cooling control by the control device of the cooling device. In the present embodiment, the cooling device is controlled based on the processing mode, productivity, ambient temperature, and laser light source temperature.

  For example, in the cooling device 30 shown in FIG. 5, the laser light source temperature may be measured as long as the laser light source temperature sensor is provided in the laser light source 11 and the control device 36 captures the detection value of the laser light source temperature sensor. . Further, the laser light source temperature sensor may be provided in the image processing apparatus, and the control device 36 may take in the value of the laser light source temperature from the image processing apparatus.

  When the image processing apparatus starts processing, the cooling device also starts operation. First, the cooling device detects a processing mode performed by the image processing device in a processing mode detection step (S401).

  Next, in the productivity detection step (S402), the productivity of processing performed by the image processing apparatus is detected.

  Next, in the ambient temperature detection step (S403), the ambient temperature of the image processing apparatus is detected.

  Next, in the laser light source temperature detection step (S404), the laser light source temperature is detected.

  Next, in the fan rotation speed determination step (S405), based on the results of the processing mode detection step (S401), the productivity detection step (S402), the ambient temperature detection step (S403), and the laser light source temperature detection step (S404). Determine the fan speed.

  Next, in the fan / pump operation step (S406), the operation of the fan and the pump is started. At this time, the fan rotation speed is the fan rotation speed determined in the fan rotation speed determination step (S405).

  Next, in the processing continuation determination step (S407), it is determined whether the processing of the image processing apparatus is continued. If the processing is continued (S407: Y), the processing continues to the fan / pump operation step (S406) ( S407: N) proceeds to stop and stops the fan and the pump.

  Tables 4 and 5 are correspondence tables of the processing mode, productivity, and fan rotation speed in the fan rotation speed determination step (S405).

  In the present embodiment, the amount of heat generated by the laser light source increases in the order of the image recording mode, the rewriting mode, and the image erasing mode. That is, when the heat generation amounts of the laser light sources in the image recording mode, the rewrite mode, and the image erasing mode are E1, E2, and E3, respectively, E3> E2> E1. In each mode, the higher the productivity, the greater the amount of heat generated by the laser light source. Also, the lower the ambient temperature, the greater the amount of heat generated by the laser light source. Also, the higher the temperature of the laser light source, the greater the amount of heat generated by the laser light source. Hereinafter, control examples in each processing mode will be described.

  Table 4 shows the case where the laser light source temperature is equal to or higher than the lower limit and smaller than {lower limit + (upper limit−lower limit) / 2}.

[Erase mode]
When the productivity is greater than 0% and 30% or less, when the ambient temperature is higher than the lower limit and lower than {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3}, the fan speed is 50% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit When + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3} is larger than {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) x 2/3}, the fan speed is 40% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) ) × 2/3} and below the upper limit, the fan speed is set to 30% of the rated speed.

  When the productivity is greater than 30% and less than 70%, when the ambient temperature is above the lower limit and below {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3}, the fan speed is 70% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit When + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3} is larger than {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) × 2/3}, the fan speed is 60% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) ) × 2/3} and below the upper limit, the fan speed is 50% of the rated speed.

  When productivity is greater than 70% and less than 100%, when the ambient temperature is above the lower limit and below {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3}, the fan speed is 90% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit When + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3} is greater than {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) x 2/3}, the fan speed is 80% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) ) × 2/3} and below the upper limit, the fan speed is set to 70% of the rated speed.

[Rewrite mode]
When the productivity is greater than 0% and 30% or less, when the ambient temperature is higher than the lower limit and lower than {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3}, the fan speed is 40% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit When + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3} is greater than {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) x 2/3}, the fan speed is 30% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) ) × 2/3} and below the upper limit, the fan speed is 20% of the rated speed.

  When productivity is greater than 30% and less than 70%, when the ambient temperature is above the lower limit and below {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3}, the fan speed is 60% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit When + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3} and {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) x 2/3} or less, the fan speed is 50% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) ) × 2/3} and below the upper limit, the fan speed is 40% of the rated speed.

  When the productivity is greater than 70% and less than 100%, when the ambient temperature is above the lower limit and below {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3}, the fan speed is 80% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit When + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3} is larger than {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) × 2/3}, the fan speed is 70% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) ) × 2/3} and below the upper limit, the fan speed is 60% of the rated speed.

[Image recording mode]
When productivity is greater than 0% and 30% or less, when the ambient temperature is above the lower limit and below {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3}, the fan speed is 30% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit When + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3} is larger than {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) x 2/3}, the fan speed is 20% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) ) × 2/3} and below the upper limit, the fan speed is set to 10% of the rated speed.

  When productivity is greater than 30% and less than 70%, when the ambient temperature is above the lower limit and below {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3}, the fan speed is 50% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit When + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3} is larger than {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) x 2/3}, the fan speed is 40% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) ) × 2/3} and below the upper limit, the fan speed is set to 30% of the rated speed.

  When productivity is greater than 70% and less than 100%, when the ambient temperature is above the lower limit and below {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3}, the fan speed is 70% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit When + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3} is larger than {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) × 2/3}, the fan speed is 60% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) ) × 2/3} and below the upper limit, the fan speed is 50% of the rated speed.

  Table 5 shows the case where the laser light source temperature is {lower limit + (upper limit−lower limit) / 2} or higher and lower than the upper limit.

[Erase mode]
When the productivity is greater than 0% and 30% or less, when the ambient temperature is lower than the lower limit and {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3}, the fan speed is 60% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit When + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3} and {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) x 2/3} or less, the fan speed is 50% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) ) × 2/3} and below the upper limit, the fan speed is 40% of the rated speed.

  When the productivity is greater than 30% and less than 70%, when the ambient temperature is above the lower limit and below {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3}, the fan speed is 80% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit When + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3} is larger than {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) × 2/3}, the fan speed is 70% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) ) × 2/3} and below the upper limit, the fan speed is 60% of the rated speed.

  When the productivity is greater than 70% and less than 100%, when the ambient temperature is above the lower limit and below {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3}, the fan speed is 100% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit When + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3} is larger than {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) x 2/3}, the fan speed is 90% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) ) × 2/3} and below the upper limit, the fan speed is 80% of the rated speed.

[Rewrite mode]
When the productivity is greater than 0% and 30% or less, when the ambient temperature is higher than the lower limit and lower than {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3}, the fan speed is 50% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit When + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3} is larger than {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) x 2/3}, the fan speed is 40% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) ) × 2/3} and below the upper limit, the fan speed is set to 30% of the rated speed.

  When the productivity is greater than 30% and less than 70%, when the ambient temperature is above the lower limit and below {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3}, the fan speed is 70% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit When + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3} is larger than {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) × 2/3}, the fan speed is 60% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) ) × 2/3} and below the upper limit, the fan speed is 50% of the rated speed.

  When productivity is greater than 70% and less than 100%, when the ambient temperature is above the lower limit and below {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3}, the fan speed is 90% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit When + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3} is greater than {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) x 2/3}, the fan speed is 80% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) ) × 2/3} and below the upper limit, the fan speed is set to 70% of the rated speed.

[Image recording mode]
When the productivity is greater than 0% and 30% or less, when the ambient temperature is higher than the lower limit and lower than {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3}, the fan speed is 40% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit When + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3} is greater than {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) x 2/3}, the fan speed is 30% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) ) × 2/3} and below the upper limit, the fan speed is 20% of the rated speed.

  When productivity is greater than 30% and less than 70%, when the ambient temperature is above the lower limit and below {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3}, the fan speed is 60% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit When + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3} and {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) x 2/3} or less, the fan speed is 50% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) ) × 2/3} and below the upper limit, the fan speed is 40% of the rated speed.

  When the productivity is greater than 70% and less than 100%, when the ambient temperature is above the lower limit and below {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3}, the fan speed is 80% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit When + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3} is larger than {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) × 2/3}, the fan speed is 70% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) ) × 2/3} and below the upper limit, the fan speed is 60% of the rated speed.

  According to the cooling device according to the fourth embodiment, the cooling performance of the cooling device can be changed according to the processing mode, productivity, ambient temperature, and laser light source temperature of the image processing device, and excessive cooling energy is consumed. Without this, the laser light source can be kept at an allowable temperature.

  In the fourth embodiment, the example in which the cooling performance of the cooling device is changed in accordance with the processing mode, productivity, ambient temperature, and laser light source temperature of the image processing device has been described. However, the processing mode of the image processing device and the laser light source are described. You may make it change the cooling performance of a cooling device according to temperature. Further, the cooling performance of the cooling device may be changed according to the processing mode, productivity, and laser light source temperature of the image processing device. Further, the cooling performance of the cooling device may be changed according to the processing mode of the image processing device, the ambient temperature, and the laser light source temperature.

<Fifth Embodiment>
In the third and fourth embodiments, the lower the ambient temperature, the higher the fan rotation speed and the higher the cooling performance.

  However, the lower the ambient temperature, the easier it is to cool, so the ambient temperature is low, for example, when the difference in the thermal energy required for color development (image recording) and decoloring (image erasure) of the thermoreversible recording medium is small. It is also possible to set the fan rotation speed low.

  In this case, the correspondence table of the processing mode, productivity, and fan rotation speed in the fan rotation speed determination step (S405) can be as shown in Table 6, for example.

  Table 6 is another example of the correspondence table between the processing mode, productivity, and fan rotation speed in the fan rotation speed determination step (S304, third embodiment).

[Erase mode]
When the productivity is greater than 0% and 30% or less, when the ambient temperature is higher than the lower limit and lower than {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3}, the fan speed is 40% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit When + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3} and {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) x 2/3} or less, the fan speed is 50% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) ) × 2/3} and below the upper limit, the fan speed is 60% of the rated speed.

  When productivity is greater than 30% and less than 70%, when the ambient temperature is above the lower limit and below {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3}, the fan speed is 60% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit When + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3} is larger than {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) × 2/3}, the fan speed is 70% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) ) × 2/3} and below the upper limit, the fan speed is 80% of the rated speed.

  When the productivity is greater than 70% and less than 100%, when the ambient temperature is above the lower limit and below {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3}, the fan speed is 80% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit When + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3} is larger than {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) x 2/3}, the fan speed is 90% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) ) × 2/3} and below the upper limit, the fan speed is 100% of the rated speed.

[Rewrite mode]
When productivity is greater than 0% and 30% or less, when the ambient temperature is above the lower limit and below {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3}, the fan speed is 30% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit When + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3} is larger than {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) x 2/3}, the fan speed is 40% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) ) × 2/3} and below the upper limit, the fan speed is 50% of the rated speed.

  When productivity is greater than 30% and less than 70%, when the ambient temperature is above the lower limit and below {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3}, the fan speed is 50% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit When + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3} is larger than {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) × 2/3}, the fan speed is 60% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) ) × 2/3} and below the upper limit, the fan speed is set to 70% of the rated speed.

  When productivity is greater than 70% and less than 100%, when the ambient temperature is above the lower limit and below {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3}, the fan speed is 70% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit When + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3} is greater than {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) x 2/3}, the fan speed is 80% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) ) × 2/3} and below the upper limit, the fan speed is 90% of the rated speed.

[Image recording mode]
When the productivity is greater than 0% and 30% or less, when the ambient temperature is lower than the lower limit and lower than {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3}, the fan speed is 20% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit When + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3} is greater than {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) x 2/3}, the fan speed is 30% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) ) × 2/3} and below the upper limit, the fan speed is 40% of the rated speed.

  When productivity is greater than 30% and less than 70%, when the ambient temperature is above the lower limit and below {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3}, the fan speed is 40% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit When + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3} and {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) x 2/3} or less, the fan speed is 50% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) ) × 2/3} and below the upper limit, the fan speed is 60% of the rated speed.

  When the productivity is greater than 70% and less than 100%, when the ambient temperature is above the lower limit and below {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3}, the fan speed is 60% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit When + (upper limit-lower limit) / 3} is larger than {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) × 2/3}, the fan speed is 70% of the rated speed and the ambient temperature is {lower limit + (upper limit-lower limit) ) × 2/3} and below the upper limit, the fan speed is 80% of the rated speed.

  According to the cooling device according to the fifth embodiment, the cooling performance of the cooling device can be changed according to the processing mode, productivity, and ambient temperature (thermo-reversible recording medium temperature) of the image processing device. The lower the temperature, the lower the fan speed can be set to keep the laser light source at an acceptable temperature without consuming excessive cooling energy.

<Sixth Embodiment>
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing another example of the cooling control by the control device of the cooling device. In the above embodiment, the cooling device first detects the processing mode of the image processing device. However, in this embodiment, the output of the laser light source is set in each processing mode in the image processing device, and the laser light source The cooling device is controlled based on the output.

  When the image processing apparatus starts processing, the cooling device also starts operation. First, in the laser light source output detection step (S501), the cooling device detects the output of the laser light source.

  Next, in the fan rotation speed determination step (S502), the fan rotation speed is determined based on the result of the laser light source output detection step (S501).

  Next, in the fan / pump operation step (S503), the operation of the fan and the pump is started. At this time, the fan rotation speed is the fan rotation speed determined in the fan rotation speed determination step (S502).

  Next, in the processing continuation determination step (S504), it is determined whether or not the processing of the image processing apparatus is continued. If the processing is continued (S504: Y), the fan / pump operation step (S503) is not continued ( S504: N) proceeds to stop and stops the fan and pump.

  In the present embodiment, the output of the laser light source increases in the order of the image recording mode, the rewriting mode, and the image erasing mode. That is, when the heat generation amounts of the laser light sources in the image recording mode, the rewriting mode, and the image erasing mode are P1, P2, and P3, respectively, P3> P2> P1.

  In this embodiment, the fan rotation speed is set to be larger as the laser light source output is larger. For example, the fan rotation speed in the image erasing mode is the rated rotation speed (R) of the fan, the fan rotation speed in the rewrite mode is R × P2 / P3, and the fan rotation speed in the image recording mode is R × P1 / P3. be able to.

  According to the cooling device according to the present embodiment, the cooling performance of the cooling device can be changed according to the processing mode of the image processing device, and the laser light source can be kept at an allowable temperature without consuming excessive cooling energy. . Further, by changing the cooling performance of the cooling device according to the laser light source output, the cooling performance of the cooling device can be determined according to the processing mode without using a sensor or the like, and the device configuration can be simplified.

  Each of the above-described embodiments is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  By using the image processing apparatus including the cooling apparatus described above, it is possible to provide an image processing apparatus that saves energy for cooling the laser light source and optimizes the laser light source temperature. In the above embodiment, the image processing apparatus has been described as an example of a laser light irradiation apparatus that irradiates a medium with laser light. However, the present invention can also be applied to other laser light irradiation apparatuses.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image processing apparatus 10 Laser beam 11 Laser light source 12 Collimator lens 13 Galvano mirror 15 Thermoreversible recording medium 16 Diffusing lens 17 Lens position control mechanism 18 Condensing lenses 20 and 30 Cooling device 21 Heat sink 22 Fan 23 Control device (cooling control means)
24 Control device (image processing device side)
31 Heat receiving portion 32 Tube 33 Pump 34 Heat radiating portion 35 Fan 36 Control device (cooling control means)
37 Control device (image processing device side)
101 Support 102 Thermoreversible Recording Layer 103 Intermediate Layer 104 Oxygen Barrier Layer 105 Ultraviolet Absorption Layer

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-136022 JP-A-11-151856 JP 2006-35683 A JP 2007-76122 A

Claims (10)

A cooling device for cooling a laser light source of a laser light irradiation device that irradiates a medium with laser light,
A cooling device comprising cooling control means for controlling a cooling operation based on information related to a heat generation state of the laser light source of the laser light irradiation device. The laser beam irradiation device is
An image recording mode for recording an image by irradiating a thermoreversible recording medium with a laser beam;
An image erasing mode in which an image is erased by irradiating a thermoreversible recording medium on which an image is recorded with laser light;
An image processing apparatus having at least two processing modes among a rewriting mode for performing both of them,
The cooling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cooling control unit controls a cooling operation based on the processing mode. With a fan as a cooling means,
The cooling device according to claim 2, wherein the cooling control unit controls the rotational speed of the fan. The cooling control means determines the rotation speed of the fan,
Number of rotations in the image erasing mode> Number of rotations in the rewrite mode> Number of rotations in the image recording mode,
The cooling device according to claim 3, wherein: A pump for feeding a coolant as the cooling means;
The cooling device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the cooling control unit controls the fan and the pump.   6. The cooling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the cooling control unit controls a cooling operation based on productivity of the image processing apparatus in addition to the processing mode.   The cooling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the cooling control unit controls a cooling operation based on an ambient temperature of the image processing apparatus in addition to the processing mode.   8. The cooling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the cooling control unit controls a cooling operation based on a temperature of a laser light source of the image processing apparatus in addition to the processing mode. A laser light source for emitting laser light;
A cooling device for cooling the laser light source;
The said cooling device is a cooling device of Claim 1, The laser beam irradiation apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. A laser light source for emitting laser light;
A cooling device according to any one of claims 2 to 8,
An image processing apparatus that records an image by irradiating a thermoreversible recording medium with laser light, and erases the image by irradiating the thermoreversible recording medium on which the image is recorded with laser light.